HB Hospital yet again preparing for doctors strike

2 May 2008

HB Hospital yet again preparing for junior doctors’ strike

Hawke’s Bay Hospital Soldiers’ Memorial will be reduced to providing limited outpatient, surgical and emergency services during next week's planned two-day national strike by junior doctors. The DHB has received strike notice from the New Zealand Resident Doctors’ Association for a complete withdrawal of labour from 7.00am Wednesday 7 May until 8.00am Friday 9 May.

Chief Operating Officer Warrick Frater said Hawke’s Bay Hospital employed about 102 registrars and house surgeons. As part of contingency planning, hospital managers were finalising the plans to ensure safe patient care at Hawke’s Bay Hospital Soldiers’ Memorial and Mr Frater said the community could be confident that there would be essential emergency services.

"We will maintain essential services only, including acute surgery, emergency department care, intensive care, and maternity care.

"We must also strongly emphasise our message that if their medical condition is not urgent or an emergency people should either phone or visit their GP or medical centre or phone Healthline on 0800 611 116 for free 24 hour telephone advice from a registered nurse,” says Mr Frater.

Those patients with non-urgent operations or arranged outpatient clinic appointments affected by the strike will get a phone call or a letter and people need to be aware that services can resume at short notice.

An information helpline 0800 450 113 has been set up to answer questions from people who may be uncertain whether their appointment is affected. If the line is busy, callers are encouraged to leave a message and a staff member will return the call as soon as possible.

ENDS

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